1. a plate, disk, face, or other surface containing markings or figures upon which the time of day is indicated by hands, pointers, or shadows, as of a clock or sundial.
2. a plate or disk with markings or figures for indicating or registering some measurement or number, as of pressure, number of revolutions, the frequency to which a radio is tuned, etc., usually by means of a pointer.
3. a rotatable plate, disk, or knob used for regulating a mechanism, making and breaking electrical connections, etc., as in tuning a radio or television station in or out.
4. a rotatable plate or disk on a telephone, fitted with finger holes that are marked with letters or numbers, used in making calls through an automatic switchboard.
5. any mechanism on the face of a telephone by which the caller places a call, as push buttons.
6. a compass used for underground surveying.

7. to enter or input (a number) on a telephone, as by means of a touchscreen, push buttons, or a rotary dial: I dialed your work number by mistake.
8. to make a telephone call to: You can dial the Telehealth hotline for advice from a nurse.
9. to regulate, select, or tune in by means of a dial, as on a radio: She reached over to dial an FM station.
10. to indicate or register on or as if on a dial.
11. to measure with or as if with a dial.

12. to enter or input a number on a telephone, as by means of a touchscreen, push buttons, or a rotary dial: I keep dialing, but she's not picking up.
13. to use a dial to regulate or make a selection: Dial through the program settings on the washer to find the one that suits your load.

14. (of a telephone) having a rotary dial mechanism.

15. to reduce the level of; diminish: Such open threats of military action make it more difficult to dial down tensions.
16. dial up,
• to obtain, reach, or contact by telephone:Now's your chance to dial up Chicago and do some business.
• to access a computer, the internet, or another network by dialing a telephone number.
• to increase the level of; intensify: I used cayenne, garlic, oregano, thyme, and pepper to dial up the flavor.

1. dialect.
2. dialectal.
3. dialectic.
4. dialectical.

1. the face of a watch, clock, chronometer, sundial, etc, marked with divisions representing units of time
2. the circular graduated disc of various measuring instruments
• the control on a radio or television set used to change the station or channel
• the panel on a radio on which the frequency, wavelength, or station is indicated by means of a pointer
4. a numbered disc on a telephone that is rotated a set distance for each digit of a number being called
5. a miner's compass for surveying in a mine
6. British a slang word for face (def. 1)

7. to establish or try to establish a telephone connection with (a subscriber or his number) by operating the dial on a telephone
8. to indicate, measure, or operate with a dial

1. dialect(al)

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